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Before I tell you about the wines in the flight we’ll be sampling, make sure you check out these tips on How To “Do” A Winefest. While some treat it as a wild open bar party, it really can be an educational experience (and party) if you approach it properly.

This year at WineFest, I’ll be pouring 13 wines from Italy, Spain ,and Argentina, here are a few of the highlights:

Castaño Hecula 2008
89 points | The Wine Advocate“The 2008 Hecula is 100% Monastrell sourced from 35 to 60 year-old vines and aged 50% in tank and 50% in French oak. Ripe, sweetly-fruited, and forward, this crowd-pleaser can be enjoyed now and over the next 4 years.”
Robert Parker

Villa Teresa Organic Merlot 2010
Medium-bodied with full flavours of cherries and plums — all the fruit but without the sweetness. Its Italian character comes through in earthy and herbal notes. Excellent with salami, pork and white roasted meats.

If you’re coming to WineFest this weekend, please introduce yourself to me in the Delf booth.

1. This is their Christmas. Most pourers have been pulling 12+hour days pouring wine and entertaining VIPS all week, so be patient with them.

2. Sloppy drunk people may be fun at the bar, but they’re not fun at WineFest. Have a good time, but keep it under control.

3. Raising your glass and clinking it on the bottle isn’t necessary. Say “when”, when you mean “when” and they’ll stop pouring.

4. Perfume and smelly hairspray. One of the most powerful qualities of wine, is its bouquet. Dousing yourself in Curious by Britney Spears and emptying a bottle of Final Net on your head before you leave will not only kill all of your senses, but those of the people around you. You think we’re kidding, we’re not. Not even a quick spritz. Go au naturel to this event. PLEASE!

5. Going right for the decanter. It’s not necessarily the most expensive. Jen and her team have been known to take the cheapest bottle they’re pouring and drop it in a decanter just to fool the smart asses. ASK first, they might even reach under the table and pull out a secret bottle for you to sample 😉

6. The know-it-all is almost as bad as the candy perfume girl. Yes, you’ve been to Napa. Maybe you’ve even golfed with Ernest and Julio, but remember tips 1 and 8 from above. You may be bragging to someone even more special than yourself, and, in the end, everyone is there to learn and have fun

So now that you’re well versed in the behind-the-scenes secrets of WineFest, you’re almost set. One final thing to remember: plan a way to get home. These open bar shenanigans can get out of hand very easily. Unless you’re spitting, you’ll be done in half a dozen booths or less. So get home safe.

Nollen Notorious Rooster Riesling 2010“Every once and a while an inexpensive Germany riesling, almost always from the Mosel, over delivers and that is the case with Notorious a delicious little riesling. We love the fresh nectarine skin aromas and the peachy, watermelon fruit all with freshness and balance.”
– Anthony Gismondi

Castano Monastrell 2009“It is a dark ruby-coloured wine with a fragrant nose of underbrush, blueberry and plum. Super-juicy on the palate and densely packed, this is a pleasure-bent effort for drinking over the next 2-3 years.”
– Robert Parker

Honest Johns Red 2010“The fruit explodes out of the glass with aromas of red currant, black raspberries and bing cherries. The nose also shows signature Okanagan character, followed by subtle layering of chocolate, cedar and tobacco.”
– JM Bouchard, Winemaker

Freixenet Carta Nevada“As semi-dry Cavas go, it’s hard to lodge a complaint against this one. It has a full bouquet of powdered sugar and white fruits, and the palate is sturdy and shows sweet mango and papaya flavours.”
– The Wine Enthusiast